Paul Freedman, Ten Restaurants That Changed America

[Wilfrid]

Subject of a piece by Jane Kramer in The New Yorker, if anyone's interested the author will be discussing the book at the New York Society Library on December 7. Advance reg. required but open to the public (may well sell out).

[Robert Brown]

I got scared Freedman would include the French Laundry! I don't think you can complain about his choices given the universe to choose from.

[splinky]

at how many of the list have folks here eaten?

[Wilfrid]

Le Pavillon, Chez Panisse, Antoine’s, Howard Johnson’s, Schrafft’s, Mamma Leone’s, The Mandarin, Delmonico’s, The Four Seasons, Sylvia's.

 

I've eaten at the five italicized, assuming any Howard Johnson will do but the current version of Delmonico's won't. The Mandarin means nothing to me. I think the other's were well before my time.

[Lippy]

I've eaten at Chez Panisse, Howard Johnson, Schrafft's Mama Leone, and The Four Seasons. I wouldn't mind a Schrafft's ham on cheese bread sandwich right now.

[splinky]

All except Le Pavillion and Antoine's.

[Rich]

The Mandarin was the most influential Chinese restaurant in America.

 

Eaten at all except Sylvia's.

[Sneakeater]

Eaten in Antoine's, Howard Johnson's, Schrafft's, Mama Leone's, The Four Seasons, and Sylvia's.

[Robert Brown]

Has anyone ever stayed in a Howard Johnson motel? Otherwise Chez Panisse, Schrafft's, The Four Seasons (and Valle's Steakhouse on Route 5 in West Springfield, Mass.), Mama Leone's.

[Adrian]

I got scared Freedman would include the French Laundry! I don't think you can complain about his choices given the universe to choose from.

Why? Whatever the critique of Keller's cuisine, it's hard to deny that TFL changed American dining.

[AaronS]

Has anyone ever stayed in a Howard Johnson motel? Otherwise Chez Panisse, Schrafft's, The Four Seasons (and Valle's Steakhouse on Route 5 in West Springfield, Mass.), Mama Leone's.

I stayed in one all of the time when I was a kid.

[Wilfrid]

The Mandarin was the most influential Chinese restaurant in America.

 

Eaten at all except Sylvia's.

I assume that was Delmonico's when it was a cake shop behind the wall of the original settlement?

[Wilfrid]

Has anyone ever stayed in a Howard Johnson motel? Otherwise Chez Panisse, Schrafft's, The Four Seasons (and Valle's Steakhouse on Route 5 in West Springfield, Mass.), Mama Leone's.

I think I stayed in a Howard Johnson in Boston more than twenty years ago, but I may be dreaming.

[Robert Brown]

Sounds like it could be one of the ten motels that changed America.

[Rich]

There's still a HoJo's motel off Exit 20 on the NY State Thruway. I've stayed there once.